Justin Zaruba

Justin Zaruba is an award-winning writer of the Penelope Salvo adventure series; a humorous look at the magical reality hidden in the shadows and alleyways of New York City. He's dabbled in stand up comedy, bluegrass and punk rock bands and has written two screenplays.

Penelope Salvo and Impossible Red was written as his masters thesis for the creative writing program at the University of Kansas. He created the series to introduce another strong female protagonist to science fiction. The series delves into the complexities of growing into adulthood, while also taking familiar tropes and cliches from science fiction, fantasy and mythology and reintroducing them in strange and inventive ways.

Born in Queens, New York, Justin Zaruba now lives in Lawrence, Kansas where he writes full time.